Workmanlike Reds down Schalke and advance to semis

FC Bayern beat FC Schalke 1-0 on Tuesday night, advancing to the DFB Cup semi-finals for the 11th year in a row. Joshua Kimmich scored the match-winner shortly before half-time.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Kimmich, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Thiago and Corentin Tolisso anchored a midfield featuring Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Philippe Coutinho, with Thomas Müller up front. Joshua Zirkzee came on for Tolisso in the closing stages.

Joshua opens

The 62,271 capacity crowd at the Veltins Arena saw an evenly-balanced contest between two contrasting sides in the first half-hour, with Bayern dominating possession and Schalke looking to strike on the break. The first chance fell to the hosts, Guido Burgstaller hitting the bar. Goretzka fired wide at the other end before a Burgstaller goal was ruled out for offside.

Schalke keeper Markus Schubert proved equal to a Pavard effort before Müller blasted over the bar. Neuer beat Burgstaller to a Bastian Oczipka free-kick, but Bayern slowly but surely upped the pressure. Schubert prevented an own-goal by Jean-Clair Todibo, who had been put under pressure by Müller, but the holders took the lead when Schalke cleared a corner, Kimmich pouncing on the rebound and firing home from the edge of the box.

On tenterhooks

The contest was long on aggression but short on chances after the restart, the first real opportunity coming after the hour mark, when a Coutinho curler hit the bar. But the game sprang to life now, with Schalke opening up and making a real fist of it. Rabbi Matondo squared to Benito Raman on the break, but Tolisso's slight deflection meant the forward could not control it.

Gnabry drew a save from Schubert at the other end, Goretzka heading wide before seeing a scissor-kick shave the bar. Neuer beat Burgstaller to a stray Kimmich pass before Gnabry hit the side-netting, and Bayern saw it through and posted an ultimately deserved victory to reach the last four.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Sunday, when they entertain Augsburg in the Bundesliga. They will learn the identity of their next cup opponents shortly after the match, with the semi-final draw staged at 18.00 CET.